Tag Archives: APTA Public transportation

This morning APTA President and CEO, Michael Melaniphy, expressed the organization’s support of President Obama’s call for transportation infrastructure investment.

“On behalf of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and its 1,500 members across the country, I applaud President Obama for highlighting the connection between American jobs and transportation infrastructure investment in his State of the Union speech. President Obama’s call to undertake fix-it first projects for aging infrastructure, as well as invest in high-speed rail, underscores the critical importance of transportation. Clearly, transportation is the backbone of a thriving economy that is essential to ensuring that the United States is globally competitive. “

Melaniphy believes that public transportation has an important role to play in promoting a prosperous and growing economy. “The public transportation industry is a $57 billion industry with nearly 400,000 employees,” he pointed out. “For every $1 billion invested in public transportation, 36,000 jobs are created and supported, not just at public transit systems, but also in businesses in the public transit supply sector.”

In addition to creating and supporting American jobs, investment in public transportation also provides access to jobs. Nearly 60 percent of the trips taken on public transportation are taken for work commutes.

The White House has created the infographic below, illustrating how transportation investment will improve our nation’s infrastructure and put Americans back to work. Click the image to enlarge.